Vacuum cleaner



A'Patented July 11, `1.939

VACUUM CLEANER Frederick Riebel, Jr., ana Dewey M. new, miedo,l

hio, assignors to Air-WayElectric Appliance Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, acorporation of Delaware Application September 1,8, -1935, Serial No.41,058y

6 Claims.

This invention relates to 'vacuum cleaners of the type havingV aswinging handle and has for its object to provide in such a cleaner, anarrange-- ment wherein the fan and rotary agitator are both driven froma motor of minimum height above the supporting surface on which thecleaner operates, and wherein the'handle is positioned a substantialdistance rearwardly of the suction nozzle so as to allow maximumprojection of the 1u nozzle under furniture, etc.

The invention further aims to combine these features in an arrangementwherein the fan case swings with the handle so that a paper bag may lbesupported below the handle and attached to 1.3- the fan case outlet soas to be free of strains imposed by swinging of 'the handle.

The foregoing objects are realized by arranging the motor forwardly ofthe fan case, rearwardly of the suction chamber, and just above thethroat connecting the fan case and suction chamber, which throat iscarried rearwardly at a minimum height, and arranging the fan case ltoswing around the axis of the fan shaft, which is parallel to the axesofthe motor and agitator, whereby untwisted driving belts maya beemployed. The dust collecting bag, of porous paper, is attached to thehandle and to the fan case outlet, and the fan case is rigidly attachedto thehandle sothat all three swing as a unit, and relative movementbetween fan case and bag is entirely eliminated.

Another object is to provide for ready accessibility to the motor anddriving connections.

One embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

The invention provides, a floor tool assembly .A and a handl'e,fan caseand bag assembly B. The 'former comprises a suction chamber I0, a throatII extending rearwardly therefrom, a pair of inlet ductsy I2communicating with the respective sides of the fan case I3, and with therear extresmity of thek throat Il, and a motor I4 mountedontop'of thethroat II. 5d The unit B comprises a handle I6, the fan case I3 rigidlysecured thereto, the dust collectingA p orous paper bag I6 communicatingwith the fancase outlet I1, and the supporting Venvelope I8,

enclosing the bag I6 and suspended below the '55 handle` on rods I9dening a bag insertingmouth;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of

(ci. 15-16) i The unit A vis supported on o'or wheels 20 and 2|, theformer journalled in sockets 22 formed on the suction chamber I0, andthe latter journalled on an adjustable bracket 23 pivoted to lugs on theducts I2.

A fan case I3 has opposed inlets 26, which are in swivelling connectionwith the circular outlets 26 of the ducts I2. A double fan 21 operatingin the fan case I3, is mounted on a shaft 26 which isV journalled inbearings 29 inthe ducts I2.

In the suction chamber I0 is a rotary agitator comprising a spindle 30journalled in the end s of the chamber I0, and beating Iand brushingelements 3| and 32 respectively, mounted thereon. The spindle, the'motorshaft 33, and the fan shaft 28 are parallel to each other, each lyinghorizon- ,tally transverse to the direction of movement of the cleaner.A pulley 34 on the spindle 30 is con-l nected by a straight untwistedbelt to a pulley 36 on the motor shaft 33, and pulleys 31, on theV fanshaft 28, are connected by means of belts 38, to thepulleys 38 on themotor shaft 33.

The motor I4fis enclosed between the`throat I I, and a cover40 .which isextended rearwardly and cut away, embracing the fan case I3, to form ahousing for the belts 38. The cover 40 is hinged at 4I to brackets 4Bsecured to the ducts I2 bevneaththe belts 38 so as to form guardstherefor. A separate compartment for the belt 35 is formed by apartition 42 secured in the cover 40, its` -lower edg'e fitting thecontour of the upper surface of the throat Il and adapted to seatthereagainst when the cover is in closed position.

` 'Ihe partition 42 has a slot 43 to accommodate the shaft 33 when thecover is.raised, and a ap 44, its upper end sealed around the shaft 33,closes the slot 43. The. lower end of the flap 44is secured to the topwall of the throat II.

' The lower edges of the cover 40 are' straight, and the throat II isbuilt up around the depression in which the motor I4 is seated forming ashoulder 45 to meet these edges. A flange 46 formed around the shoulder46, receives the cover. l

The motor is arranged to occupy the corner of space between the fan caseandfthe suction chamber, land is depressedbelow the upper extremities ofboth. Thisreduces, the clearance height of the motor substantially belowthat of K any cleanerof the motory driven agitator type and gives abalanced drive to both fan and agitator.

:sov

The fan case, handle, and bag assembly swing as a unit around the axisof the fan' shaft, so that strain on the neck of the .bagis avoided.

The 4douhle fan receives air from both ducts I2, which communicate withthe throatl Il at points disposed intermediate the longitudinal centerof the suction chamber and its respective ends, so that a relativelyhigh degree of equalization of suction in all regions of the suctionchamber is obtained.

The ducts I2 are detachably secured at 50 to. the throat Il, so as toallow detachment of the fan case.

The fan case has a peripheral lug 49 adapted to engage the underside ofthe throat Il so as to support the suction nozzle in normal positionwhen the cleaner is picked up bodily.

The motor I4 is an open frame motor, and the casing therefor is formedbetween the throat Il and cover 40. The latter may be lifted to anupstanding position, giving access to the motor, both `A drive belts,and the connections between the ducts I2 and the fan case.

The throat has a removable plate l la forming its lower wall and itsside walls and upper wall are formed integrally with the suction chamberl0.

The agitator belt extends through a slot 41 l inthe top wall of thesuction chamber I0.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact construction illustratedand described, but is intended to be construed as covering allmodifications thereof which come within the scope'of, or are equivalentto, what is defined in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:l

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, a throat extending rearwardlytherefrom, a rotary agitator in said chamber, a fan casing having achamber therein, means whereby the chamber communicates with the said`throat, a fan in said casing, its axis horizontal and transverse to thedirection of movement of the cleaner, said fan casing being hinged tothe suction chamber on the axis of said fan, a handle rigidly attachedto the fan casing, a bag suspended below the handle and xedly connectedto the fan casing -outlet, a motor disposed between said suction chamberand fan casing above the throat, and driving connections between saidmotor and the fan and agitator respectively.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, a

throat extending rearwardly therefrom, a fan casing having a chamber,means whereby the chamber communicates with the said throat, a fan insaid casing, its axis horizontal and transverse to the direction ofcleaner movement, said fan casing being hinged to the suction chamber onthe axis of said fan, a handle rigidly attached to the fan casing, a bagsuspended handle and flxedly connected to the fan casing outlet, a motordisposed between the suction chamber and the fan casing and above thethroat, and driving connections between said motor and the fan, saidmotor and fan chamber both being centered in the vertical centrallongitudinal plane of the cleaner.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, and

a rotary agitator therein, a throat extending delow ,the

rearwardly from said chamber whose upper surface is so constructed andarranged as to provide an available space therein, a fan casing, a fantherein, said fan and fan-casing beingcentered in the centrallongitudinal vertical plane of the cleaner with their axes horizontaland transverse to the direction of cleaner travel, said fan casing beinghinged to the chamber on the axis of said fan, a motor snugly occupyingthe available space between the fan casing and the suction chamber andabove the throat and-po-r throat extending rearwardly from said chamberWhose upper surface is so constructed and arranged as to provide anavailable space therein, a fan casing, a fan therein, said fan and fancasing being centered in the central longitudinal vertical plane of thecleaner -with their axes horizontal and transverse to the direction ofcleaner travel, said fan casing being hinged to the chamber on the axisof said fan, a motor snugly occupying the available space between thefan casing and the suction chamber and above the throat and positionedbelow the level of the top of the fan casing, said fan casing beinginteriorly connected to said throat and driving connections 'between themotor and the fan.

5. Inl a vacuum cleaner, a suction chamber, a throat extendingrearwardly from said chamber whose upper surface is so constructed andarranged as to provide an available space therein, a fan casing', a fantherein, saidfan and fan casing being centered in the centrallongitudinal vertical plane of the cleaner with their axes horizontaland transverse to the direction of cleaner travel, said fan casing beinghinged to snugiy occupying the available space between the fan casingand the suction chamber and above the throat and positioned below thelevel of the top of the fan casing, said fan casing being interiorlyconnected to said throat and driving connections between the motor andthe fan, said throat 4being depressed below the levels of the upperextremities of the suction chamber and the fan casing, and said motorbeing seated in said depression.

6. In a vacuumV cleaner, a suction chamber, a throat extendingrearwardly from said chamber, a fan casing, a fan therein, said casingand fan being centered in the central longitudinal verti- 'cal plane ofthe cleaner with their axes horizontal and transverse to the directionof cleaner travel, said fan casing being hinged to the chamber on theaxis of said fan, a motor disposed between the suction chamber and fancasing and above the throat and centered in said plane, said fan casinghaving a`n inlet on each side, each connected to the throat, and drivingconnections between said motor and the fan.

VFREDERICK RIEBEL, Jn. DEWEY M. DOW.

